Vehicle mounted gun and periscope mounting therefor



April 12, 1949.

M. VEHICLE MOUNTE UN AND PERISCOPE J. MINTER 2,466,725

MOUNTI REFOR Filed May 1945 INVENTOR. MARVIN J. MINTER ATTORN EYSPatented Apr. 12 1949 VEHICLE MOUNTED GUN AND PERISCOPE MOUNTINGTHEREFOR Marvin J. Minter, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 22, "1945, Serial No. 595,232

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370O. G. 757) 8 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

This invention relates generally to a gun sight linkage and moreparticularly to linkage interconnecting a gun and a viewing device tocoordin'ate their movement.

Military combat tanks are generally provided with a bow machine gunmounted in the front armored wall of the tank and aimed and fired byagunner seated within the tank. To enable the gunner to properly aim thegun, the present invention provides a swivel mounted periscope in thehatch cover located directly above the gun- 'ners seat and connected tothe machine gun in .such a manner as to provide coordinated swivelingmovement of the gun and the periscope.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the inn .vention to provide apivotally mounted gun and a pivotally mounted viewing deviceinterconnected by linkage arranged to provide coordinated pivotalmovement of the gun and viewing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gun and a separateviewing device each mounted for .universal pivotal movement andinterconnected by the pair of parallel rods in such a manner thatpivotal movement of the gun eifects .a corresponding pivotal movement ofthe viewing .device.

It is a further object to provide quick detachable universal connectionswhich may be used between the linkage and the gun and viewing device topermit the linkage to be quickly disconnected. It is also an object toenable the linkage to be automatically released or disconnected when thehatch cover is opened in order to permit free access to the hatch.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made moreapparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view through aportion of the vehicle illustrating the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the gun, periscope, and linkage of Figure 1separated from the vehicle;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through one of the quickdetachable connections;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by the line 4-1---'-'4-- of Figure 3, and

tion of a tank having an armored front wall H,

the lower portion of which is substantially vertical, and asubstantially horizontal armored upper wall 12 provided with a hatchopening 13. A hatch cover i4 is pivoted to the front wall I! by thehinge l5 and maybe opened to provide for entry into the interior of thetank-and closed to afford protection to the gunner.

The front wall I l is provided with an aperture :15 to permit the bowmachine gun ll to project therethrough. The cradle E8 of the gun isprovided with a ball joint l9 mounted for swiveling movement in asocket'20 bolted to the front wall H of the tank. A shield 21 isprovided upon the forward portion of the gun to protect the swivel jointfrom shell fire or the like.

The foregoing construction, which is conventional, enables the gunoperator to swivel the gun in all directions so that any target in frontof the tank may be fired upon.

To protect the gunner from enemy fire, and yet to enable him toaccurately aim and ,firethe gun, I have provided a periscope 22 which ismounted in the hatch cover It for swiveling movement. The hatch cover [4has a circular opening 23 therein provided with an annular rib '24. Therib 24 is embraced between a pair of circular plates 25 and 26 suitablyclamped together and mounted for rotation in the opening 23. The plates25 and 26 are provided with openings 21 and 28 respectively, adapted toreceive the enlarged upper end 29 of the 'periscope holder 3!].

The periscope holder 30 is pivotally mounted for movement about atransverse axis by means of a pivot pin 3| journalled in suitableopenings (not shown) in the plates 25 and 26. The front and rear edgesof the openings 21 and '28 are arcuate for cooperation with the arcuatefront and rear walls of the enlargement -29 of the periscope holder 30.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the periscope 22 is mounted foruniversal pivotal movement by means of the pivot pin 3i which permitsthe periscope to pivot about a transverse horizontal axis and therotatable-circular plates 25and 2B which permit movement of theperiscope about a vertical axis.

The periscope is of conventional construction and-permits'thegunnersline of sight tobe'dis- 3 placed from th line 32 within the tank to theline 33 outside the tank and parallel thereto.

Formed integral with the cradle l8 of the machine gun I! are a pair oftransversely extending arms 34 and 35 each terminating in a ball joint36. The periscope 22 is likewise provided with a pair of arms 31 and 38extending rearwardly and outwardly therefrom and bolted at 39 to theopposite sides of the periscope holder 36. The arms 31 and 38 likewiseterminate in ball joints 46.

Interconnecting the arms 34 and 35 of the gun with the arms 31 and 38respectively of the periscope are a pair of parallel rods 4| and 42respectively. The opposite ends of the rods 4| and 42 are provided withquick detachable connecting units 43 attached to the ball joints 36 and46 upon the ends of the rods and forming therewith universal pivotalconnections.

Before describing in detail the quick detachable connecting units 43, itshould be noted that the geometry of the construction is such that therods 4| and 42 are parallel to each other and also are parallel to aline 44 interconnecting the points about which the gun and periscopeswivel. As best seen in Figure 2, the arms 34 and 35 are of equal lengthso that the ball joints 36 are disposed equal distances on oppositesides of the centerline 45 of the gun. Likewise the arms 31 and 38 aresymmetrical in size and location so that the ball joints 4!] are locatedequal distances on opposite sides of the centerline 45.

The gun and periscope are arranged so that the centerline 45 of the gunis at right angles to the centerline 46 of the periscope at all times,with the result that the line of sight 32-33 through the periscope isalways parallel to the centerline 45 of the gun. Suitable markings maybe provided on the periscope to assist the gunner in aiming.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that a plane through the swivelpoint 41 of the gun and the ball joints 36 defines a predetermined angle48 with the axis 45 of the gun. An angle 49 of equal size is formed by aplane through the swivel point 50 of the periscope and the ball joints46 and a line passing through the swivel point 56 parallel to the lineof sight 3'233. Furthermore the ball joints 36 and 49 are located equaldistances from the swivel points 41 and 56 of the gun and periscoperespectively.

With the construction discussed above, perfect symmetry is provided andthe swiveling movement of the gun and periscope are coordinated witheach other so that a pivotal movement of the gun in any directionaifects a corresponding movement of the periscope and maintains the guncenterline 45 and the line of sight 32-33 always parallel.

Although the present invention can be used with an ordinary ball andsocket joint between each end of the rods 4| and 42 and the adjacentends of the arms 34, 35, 31 and 38, to provide for universal pivotalmovement therebetween, the use of the quick detachable connecting units43 is preferable. These units permit the linkage interconnecting the gunand periscope to be quickly and easily disconnected so that theperiscope may be used independently of the gun if desired, and also sothe linkage will not be in the way when the hatch cover I4 is open andthe gunner is entering or leaving the tank through the hatch opening l3.

As best seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5, each quick detachable connectingunit 43 comprises an extended frame 5| having spaced side plates 52 and53 having their bottom edges interconnected by a web 54. Each side plate52 and 53 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 55 adapted toreceive a pin 56 held in position by a head 51 at one end thereof and acotter pin 58 at the opposite end. Pivotally mounted on the pin 56between the side plates 52 and 53 of the frame are a pair oftrigger-like lever members 59. Each trigger-like lever member 59 has abore 66 receiving therein one end of a respective one of a pair ofhollow sleeves 6| the latter having their other ends internally threadedand spaced apart when in the normal position as shown in Figure 3.

Adjustably mounted within the threaded end of each sleeve 6| is a socketmember 62 provided with a concave spherical shaped indentation 63 uponone end. The indentations 63 of the socket members 62 cooperate witheach other to form a socket engaging the spherical head 64 of the balljoints 36 or 46.

Adjustment of the socket members 62 toward and away from each other isaccomplished by turning the latter within the sleeves 6|. Screwdriverslots 65 are provided in the socket members to facilitate thisoperation. The sleeves 6| are provided with a plurality of angularlyspaced holes 66 to receive cotter pins 61 which pass through the slots65 and hold the socket members 62 in their adjusted positions.

The lower end of each trigger-like lever member 59 is provided with asocket 68 for receiving the opposite ends of a compression spring 69.The spring 69 operates to urge the trigger-like lever members 59 apartand normally maintains the various parts of the unit in the positionshown in Figure 3 in which the sleeves 6| are seated upon the web 54 ofthe frame 5|. In this position the socket members 62 are in axialalignment and in engagement with the spherical ball 64 of the balljoints.

The quick detachable connectin units 43 are disengaged from the balljoints by grasping the trigger-like lever members 59 and moving thelatter toward each other against the action of spring 69. This pivotsthe trigger-like lever membars 59, sleeves 6|, and socket members 62about the pivot pins 55 and, with reference to the position of the partsas shown in Figure 3, moves the spherical indentations 63 of the socketmembers 62 upwardly and out of retaining engagement with the sphericalhead 64 of the ball joints. Reassembly with the ball joints is easilyaccomplished by operating the trigger-like lever members 59 to separatethe socket members 62 and then, after the head 64 of the ball joints isinserted therebetween, releasing the trigger-like lever members andpermitting the spring 69 to move the socket members into engagement withthe ball.

The side plates 52 and 53 of the frame 5| are provided with extensions70 at one end adapted to receive therebetween a hexagonal member H, thelatter being welded between the extensions 10. The hexagonal members Hare internally threaded to receive the threaded ends of the rods 4| and42, thus adjustably joining the rods to the connecting units. It will beseen that each rod forms with its pair of hexagonal members H aturnbuckle of simple and strong construction. Lock nuts I2 are providedupon the rods to lock the latter in their adjusted positions.

In addition to permitting the rods 4| and 42 to be disconnected from thegunand the periscope by a simple manual operation, the units 43 permitthe rods to be automatically disconnected from the arms 37 and 38 of theperiscope when the hatch cover It isopened. As best seen in Figure l,the hatch cover It is pivoted on hinges IE5 at its forward edge so thatupon upward pivotal movement of the hatch cover the rods dl and 62 arecarried forward and eventually strike the inclined portionof the frontwall 5 l of the tank. Further movement of the hatch cover after the rodshave engaged the wall pulls the ball joints All from between the socketmembers 62, this being permitted by the pivotal mounting of the sleevesBI and trigger-like lever members 59 and the resilient spring 69 betweenthe trigger-like lever members,

This automatic release is a valuable safety factor since it permits thegunner to make an emergency exit through the hatch without stopping todisconnect the rods 4! and 42 from the periscope.

Another advantage of the present construction is that its simplicity andrigidity eliminates to a large degree vibration which would otherwise bepresent between the gun and periscope. The vibration can be decreasedfurther, if desired, by the insertion of a vibration dampener ofconventional design in rods 4| and 42.

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of theinvention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to theexact construction shown and described, but that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a gun mounted for universalpivotal movement about a pivot point, a pair of arms extending from saidgun, a viewing device mounted for universal pivotal movement about apivot point spaced from said gun pivot point, a pair of arms extendingfrom said viewing device, and a pair of parallel rods inter-connectingthe said arms on the gun with the said arms on the viewing device, saidrods having releasable universal connections with said arms andproviding coordinated pivotal movement of said gun and said viewingdevice.

2. In a device of the character described, a gun mounted for universalpivotal movement about a pivot point, a viewing device mounted foruniversal pivotal movement about a pivot point spaced from said gunpivot point, a pair of spaced parallel rods each extending parallel to aline connecting the pivot points of said gun and said viewing device,and releasable means universally pivotally connecting the opposite endsof said rods to said gun and said viewing device respectively so thatpivotal movement of said gun effects a corresponding pivotal movement ofsaid viewing device.

3. In a device of the character described, a pivotally mounted gun, apivotally mounted viewing device spaced from said gun, a rod extendingparallel to and spaced from a line connecting the pivot points of saidgun and said viewing device, and quick releasable universal connectionspivotally connecting the opposite ends of said rod to said gun and saidviewing device respectively so that pivotal movement of said gun effectsa corresponding pivotal movement of said viewing device, each of saidconnections comprising a frame at one of said ends of said rod, a pairof spaced trigger-like lever members pivotally mounted on said frame,sleeves carried by said 6 lever members, sockets adjustably mounted insaid sleeves and cooperating to receive a ball joint, and a compressionspring mounted between said lever members and urging said sockets towardeach other.

i. Ina device of the character described, a gun mounted for universalpivotal movement about a pivot point, a viewing device mounted foruniversal pivotal movement about a pivot point spaced from said gunpivot point, a pair ofparallel rods, a quick releasable ball andsocketjoint at one end of each of said rods connecting the latter tosaid gun at a predetermined distance from the pivot point of the latter,and a quick releasable ball and socket joint at the opposite end of eachof said rods connecting the latter to said viewing device and spacedfrom the pivot point of the latter a distance equal to the distancebetween the said one end of said rods and the gun pivot point so that apivotal movement of said gun in any direction effects a correspondingmovement of said viewing device.

5. In a combat vehicle having an armored wall and a hatch cover eachprovided with an aperture, a swivel mounted gun projecting through theaperture in said wall, a swivel mounted periscope projecting through theaperture in said hatch cover, a pair of spaced parallel rods within saidvehicle each extending parallel to a line connecting the swivel pointsof said gun and said periscope, and quick releasable ball and socketconnections joinin the opposite ends of said rods to said gun and saidperiscope and arranged to provide coordinated swivelling movement ofsaid gun and said periscope.

6. In a combat vehicle having a substantially vertical armored wall anda substantially horizontal hatch provided with a pivoted hatch cover, aswivel mounted gun projecting through said wall, a swivel mountedperiscope projecting through said hatch cover, a pair of parallel rodswithin said vehicle, and quick releasable means universally connectingthe opposite ends of said rods to said gun and said periscope to providecoordinated swivelling movement of said gun and said periscope, saidquick releasable means providing for quick detachment of said rods fromsaid periscope to permit free access to said hatch.

'7. In a combat vehicle having a substantially vertical armored wall anda substantially horizontal hat-ch provided with a pivoted hatch cover, aswivel mounted gun projecting through said wall, a swivel mountedperiscope projecting through said hatch cover, a pair of parallel rodswithin said vehicle, said rods being universally connected at oppositeends thereof to said gun and said periscope, and means for automaticallyreleasing said rods from their connection with said periscope when thehatch cover is opened to permit free access to said hatch.

8. A quick detachable universal connection comprising a frame, a pair ofspaced trigger members pivotally mounted on said frame, sleeves carriedby said trigger members, sockets adjustably mounted in said sleeves andcooperating to receive a ball joint, a compression spring mountedbetween said trigger members and urging said sockets toward each other,and a stop on said frame limiting the pivotal movement of said triggermembers, sleeves and sockets.

IWARVIN J. MINTER.

(References on following page) '7 REFERENCES CITED Number The followingreferences are of record in the file of thls patent: 233591693 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 5 2,390,516 Number Name Date 149,842 Deeds Apr. 21, 1874N b 1,000,893 Buckley Aug. 15, 1911 @3 1,135,237 Whitman Apr. 13, 1915775549 1,430,193 Schurmann m. Sept. 26, 1922 10 1,480,303 Roy Jan. 8,1924 Name Date 4 Humphrey Nov. 16, 1943 Growald May 9, 1944 Tucker Oct.3, 1944 Crawford Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GreatBritain Apr. 20, 1937 France Oct. 15, 1934

